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It will be taken down just before they call the election. Not that it will be an issue. Here is the rollout map http://www.nbnco.com.au/sell-nbn-ser...llout-map.html
It shows that in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra the majority of the population still does not have NBN. I just wonder what would have happened to the NBN rollout if Labour had won the election?

John Church, a globally recognised expert on sea level rise and one of CSIRO's most decorated researchers, said organisation chief Larry Marshall had misled the public by claiming there was now less need for climate research because the problem had been "proven".

It came as US scientist James Hansen, sometimes described as the father of climate change awareness, suggested the decision to cut the jobs was wrong.
Dr Marshall announced via email on Thursday that 350 jobs would go over two years as the organisation moved away from observing and modelling climate change to working on solutions to the problem.

Details of the cuts have not been finalised, but it is understood one of the world's three major atmospheric greenhouse gas recording stations at Cape Grim, in Tasmania's north-west, is under threat. It is the only station of its type in the southern hemisphere.
The future of programs run by the $120 million RV Investigator research ship, launched amid fanfare in late 2014, are among those that are unclear.
CSIRO staff were forthright in their unhappiness at the cuts at briefings at midday on Friday, describing it as a flawed strategy.
About 100 jobs are planned to go from units dedicated to research in areas including greenhouse gas levels, sea level rise, ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and assessing what is required to keep global warming to two degrees. The jobs would be replaced by new positions in other areas.
Dr Church, who has worked at CSIRO since 1978 and expects to lose his job, said the cuts would make it difficult for Australia to uphold its part of the Paris deal, which agreed there should be greater investment in climate research, including improved observations and early warning systems.
He said the work of CSIRO was considered particularly important because of Australia's role as the major developed country in the southern hemisphere, with a focus on Antarctica and the Pacific.

I just wonder what would have happened to the NBN rollout if Labour had won the election?

All of the hard work and negotiations had been done. The asbestos pits were a problem as they are for Fraudband. But they would have been a long way down the track with FTTP, and possibly cheaper or the same price as Fraudband.

"Where is everybody?" one Liberal MP asked another, as Turnbull rose to his feet to become the first Prime Minister to begin an address to the Parliament in the language of the traditional owners of the land on which it is built.
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There is a convention that when the PM addresses the chamber, his troops are there in force to demonstrate solidarity. It went by the board on Wednesday morning.

There is also a convention that when a subject of national importance that goes to questions of national identity or national security is broached by the nation's leaders, all MPs take their seats. That, too, was waived on the Coalition side.

Labor Senator Sam Dastyari has joined calls for an independent inquiry into the ABC’s coverage of the NBN in the lead-up to the 2013 federal election and revelations that one of its most senior executives ordered a “hit piece” on former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, to provide “insurance” against Coalition attacks.

Dastyari joins a growing number of voices demanding the ABC Board launch an inquiry into the issue, including respected former ABC journalist Quentin Demster and Labor opposition communications spokesman Jason Clare.

In May 2013, former Games and Technology editor Nick Ross secretly tape-recorded a meeting with his boss, Head of Current Affairs, Bruce Belsham, in which Ross was directed to write what Dastyari called a “hit piece” on former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, and Labor’s handling of the NBN roll out.

The Senate reforms have been announced. I don't like that they're limiting the above line vote to a maximum of 6 preferences, that's clearly there to benefit the major parties so people don't ultimately "waste" their vote.

The Senate reforms have been announced. I don't like that they're limiting the above line vote to a maximum of 6 preferences, that's clearly there to benefit the major parties so people don't ultimately "waste" their vote.

oh, the confusion and blunders with the Coalitions tax policy. Their scare campaign is hopeless.
I want Tones back, Tones for P.M., at least he could run a good scare campaign.
It looks like that is all they have, so bring back Tones.Bring Back Tones, Bring back Tones

Just on the Drum's comments section. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-2...alcolm/7192170 Our old friend Alfie is calling for Tones to be bought back. He made the insightful statement that Tones was turning the polls around. I think he is confused with Cayman Mal, then again Cayman Mal is Tones Light at the moment.

I think it is time to review the IPAs 75 point plan for the LNP to inflict upon us unfortunate plebs.
How did the LNP go in carrying out their extreme right wing agenda.
1. Done
2.3.6. tried but not entirely successful
4. tried but unsuccessful
11. fail
30. successful
43. succesful
49. succesful
Well not a very good report card from the IPAs point of view. There were many other points that the LNP want or are trying in a watered down version. What do you all think?

1. Repeal the carbon tax, and don’t replace it. It will be one thing to remove the burden of the carbon tax from the Australian economy. But if it is just replaced by another costly scheme, most of the benefits will be undone.
2. Abolish the Department of Climate Change
3. Abolish the Clean Energy Fund
4. Repeal section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act
5. Abandon Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council
6. Repeal the renewable energy target
7. Return income taxing powers to the states
8. Abolish the Commonwealth Grants Commission
9. Abolish the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
10. Withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol
11. Introduce fee competition to Australian universities
12. Repeal the National Curriculum
13. Introduce competing private secondary school curriculums
14. Abolish the Australian Communications and Media Authority
15. Eliminate laws that require radio and television broadcasters to be “balanced”
16. Abolish television spectrum licensing and devolve spectrum management to the common law
17. End local content requirements for Australian television stations
18. Eliminate family tax benefits
19. Abandon the paid parental leave scheme
20. Means-test Medicare
21. End all corporate welfare and subsidies by closing the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
22. Introduce voluntary voting
23. End mandatory disclosures on political donations
24. End media blackout in final days of election campaigns
25. End public funding to political parties
26. Remove anti-dumping laws
27. Eliminate media ownership restrictions
28. Abolish the Foreign Investment Review Board
29. Eliminate the National Preventative Health Agency
30. Cease subsidising the car industry
31. Formalise a one-in, one-out approach to regulatory reduction
32. Rule out federal funding for the 2018 Commonwealth Games
33. Deregulate the parallel importation of books
34. End preferences for Industry Super Funds in workplace relations laws
35. Legislate a cap on government spending and tax as a percentage of GDP
36. Legislate a balanced budget amendment which strictly limits the size of budget deficits and the period the federal government can be in deficit
37. Force government agencies to put all of their spending online in a searchable database
38. Repeal plain packaging for cigarettes and rule it out for all other products, including alcohol and fast food
39. Reintroduce voluntary student unionism at universities
40. Introduce a voucher scheme for secondary schools
41. Repeal the alcopops tax
42. Introduce a special economic zone in the north of Australia including:
a) Lower personal income tax for residents
b) Significantly expanded 457 Visa programs for workers
c) Encourage the construction of dams
43. Repeal the mining tax
44. Devolve environmental approvals for major projects to the states
45. Introduce a single rate of income tax with a generous tax-free threshold
46. Cut company tax to an internationally competitive rate of 25%
47. Cease funding the Australia Network
48. Privatise Australia Post
49. Privatise Medibank
50. Break up the ABC and put out to tender each individual function
51. Privatise SBS
52. Reduce the size of the public service from current levels of more than 260,000 to at least the 2001 low of 212,784
53. Repeal the Fair Work Act
54. Allow individuals and employers to negotiate directly terms of employment that suit them
55. Encourage independent contracting by overturning new regulations designed to punish contractors
56. Abolish the Baby Bonus
57. Abolish the First Home Owners’ Grant
58. Allow the Northern Territory to become a state
59. Halve the size of the Coalition front bench from 32 to 16
60. Remove all remaining tariff and non-tariff barriers to international trade
61. Slash top public servant salaries to much lower international standards, like in the United States
62. End all public subsidies to sport and the arts
63. Privatise the Australian Institute of Sport
64. End all hidden protectionist measures, such as preferences for local manufacturers in government tendering
65. Abolish the Office for Film and Literature Classification
66. Rule out any government-supported or mandated internet censorship
67. Means test tertiary student loans
68. Allow people to opt out of superannuation in exchange for promising to forgo any government income support in retirement
69. Immediately halt construction of the National Broadband Network and privatise any sections that have already been built
70. End all government funded Nanny State advertising
71. Reject proposals for compulsory food and alcohol labelling
72. Privatise the CSIRO
73. Defund Harmony Day
74. Close the Office for Youth
75. Privatise the Snowy-Hydro Scheme

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. Truth is a regular column for Delimiter Members which does nothing more than call a spade a spade. That’s too much for some people, but then they would probably prefer their news a little more … limited.

Here in Malaysia there isn't very much free to air English language programming, so I often find myself watching Australia 1 (particularly the politics). During your version of ministerial questions, there's a guy called Chris Bowen who seems very good in the Chamber. Is that backed up by substance? If so, why isn't he Labor leader? He seems a lot better than Shorten.

Here in Malaysia there isn't very much free to air English language programming, so I often find myself watching Australia 1 (particularly the politics). During your version of ministerial questions, there's a guy called Chris Bowen who seems very good in the Chamber. Is that backed up by substance? If so, why isn't he Labor leader? He seems a lot better than Shorten.

Thanks in advance for your views.

He's certainly in the queue. If Labor were to win an election tomorrow and made no changes to the shadow positions, he would become Treasurer, which is one of the most important positions in the cabinet.

The problem he has versus Shorten is that Shorten as a more centrist (in terms of the parties centre, overall he's to the left of Bowen) member has a broad base of support from within the party in both Left and Right factions. Bowen doesn't have that same support from the Left faction, even if the Right might prefer him.

__________________i loves the little birdies they goes tweet tweet tweet hee hee i loves them they sings to each other tweet twet tweet hee hee i loves them they is so cute i love yje little birdies little birdies in the room when birfies sings ther is no gloom i lobes the little birdies they goess tweet tweet tweet hee hee hee i loves them they sings me to sleep sing me to slrrp now little birdies - The wisdom of Shemp.

The leadership of the Labor Party is very rarely based on ability or merit...

I think we're seeing that reflected in a few countries and a few parties around the world now.

Originally Posted by Damien Evans

He's certainly in the queue. If Labor were to win an election tomorrow and made no changes to the shadow positions, he would become Treasurer, which is one of the most important positions in the cabinet.

The problem he has versus Shorten is that Shorten as a more centrist (in terms of the parties centre, overall he's to the left of Bowen) member has a broad base of support from within the party in both Left and Right factions. Bowen doesn't have that same support from the Left faction, even if the Right might prefer him.

Thanks - I'd guessed that the Treasurer position was prominent given the regular presence of Scott Morrison. I looked into the last leadership election and I saw Bowen was acting leader while the contest was decided, but confess I wasn't sure why he wouldn't have had a crack then. Your explanation helps. It does look a bit like people worldwide are moving away from the centre ground in politics; though maybe that should have resulted in Albanese winning (although he did get more grass roots votes, if I understand the process fully).

Would you (or others) describe Bowen as being more of a Blair-type politician, by which I mean socially liberal but also broadly economically liberal?

though maybe that should have resulted in Albanese winning (although he did get more grass roots votes, if I understand the process fully).

You are right there. Albanese was the more popular candidate among the general rank and file. Shorten only won because the process used to choose the leader gave more power to the higher ups in the party and Shorten had greater support among them.

You are right there. Albanese was the more popular candidate among the general rank and file. Shorten only won because the process used to choose the leader gave more power to the higher ups in the party and Shorten had greater support among them.

Thank you.

That's how the UK Labour Party leadership elections used to work - the MPs votes counted for 1/3; trade unions for 1/3; members for 1/3. Ed Miliband beat his brother David because the unions supported him, despite coming (a reasonably close) second in the other two categories. As a result he instituted changes which meant all votes were equal. Corbin benefitted from that, though arguably he would have had some union support in addition to members'.

All of the above is IIRC, though.

I can see the arguments on both sides for the two systems. I guess the UK will find out in 2020, and Australia sooner, if it does result in a more electable party.

With the blowup in politics with Abbott probably via an intermediary leaking the defence paper and Morrison's implosion with his negative gearing and BIS study.
Do you think that Tones will challenge Turnbull? Rational thinking would tell me no. But Tones and rational are oxy morons.

With the blowup in politics with Abbott probably via an intermediary leaking the defence paper and Morrison's implosion with his negative gearing and BIS study.
Do you think that Tones will challenge Turnbull? Rational thinking would tell me no. But Tones and rational are oxy morons.

He's probably dumb enough to try it. I wonder if his party would be dumb enough to vote for him. I hope not.

__________________i loves the little birdies they goes tweet tweet tweet hee hee i loves them they sings to each other tweet twet tweet hee hee i loves them they is so cute i love yje little birdies little birdies in the room when birfies sings ther is no gloom i lobes the little birdies they goess tweet tweet tweet hee hee hee i loves them they sings me to sleep sing me to slrrp now little birdies - The wisdom of Shemp.

I'm sure there are some, probably in the more right wing side of the party, that would vote for him. I just don't think he's got enough support for a successful challenge though.

Even with the latest newspoll the Poll Bludger is still showing a pretty solid win for the coalition.

If the trend mentioned here holds true still, as long as Turnbull can keep a positive satisfaction rating we should be seeing a coalition win, and that's a pretty strong argument for not dumping the leader.

Having got the Senate voting reforms passed, Malcolm Turnbull is now pressing ahead with forcing a double dissolution election with the aim of cleaning out the cross benchers from the Senate.

Quote:

In a snap press conference at Parliament House on Monday, Mr Turnbull said he had received permission from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove to recall both houses of Parliament on April 18. The government will try to pass a bill restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission and a separate bill, already rejected twice by the Senate, toughening standards for union governance.

If the government's bills are not passed, Mr Turnbull will call a double dissolution election - the first since 1987.

It's happened before (how do you think we got work choices the first time?)

Ordinarily, my guess is that the Greens would still get the balance of power but after getting into bed with Turnbull simply in the hope that they will get more Senators, this isn't so assured any more.

__________________"The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled. Where something so important is involved, a deeper mystery seems only decent." - Galbraith, 1975

Having got the Senate voting reforms passed, Malcolm Turnbull is now pressing ahead with forcing a double dissolution election with the aim of cleaning out the cross benchers from the Senate.

One can only hope that this strategy back fires. If Turnbull wins control of the Senate then another "work choices" bill will be rushed through.

They won't get control. I suspect they are in for a shock in the lower house too.

Despite Bill "Who?" Shorten holding the reins, I see Labor getting a JUST-made-it! win. The reason is, as usual, they would be the least worst choice.

The LNP have split themselves into two bitterly warring camps - the Abbott clique and Malcolm's Rationals. The Abbot clique has blindly and determinedly pushed the party to the edge of the precipice of oblivion and are continuing to do so even now. However Malcolm has been trying to stop them toppling the charabanc over the edge to oblivion. This is admirable as a team contribution, but it is a real tough slog for him to have to battle the religion-fueled Neanderthals in his own party as well as the Labor opposition. And Labor have plenty of sizeable sticks to beat him with as well, NBN being the biggest. He isn't going to win this, more's the pity, and his party will refuse to unite to run a sensible campaign. That makes it a lay-down misere for Labor if they play their cards right.

__________________...our governments are just trying to protect us from terror. In the same way that someone banging a hornets’ nest with a stick is trying to protect us from hornets. Frankie Boyle, Guardian, July 2015

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